Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-06-16
IRONTON MO- THURSDAY. JUNE
NUMBER 40.

or in q rainstorm which has been on so
long and steady as to have reduced
everything to pulp; or, if you have
just come from q warmer climate, the
cold is SO cutting as to preclude all
thought of attempting anything out
side of the comfortable coffee room; or
some Fenian has made an attempt to
blow the island out Of water with
dynamite, and in consequence halt the
places of interest are closed; or some
other pestiferous thing has occurred
which breaks you all up, and you de-
eide that two days in London and the
rest of the time in Paris is about the
correct thing.
1t merely happen ed, then, that dur
ing the short time I was in London
the air was clear, there was no fog at
all, but the least symptom of rain, and
no danger of dynamite until after the
passage of the Coercion Act. Hence
the opportunity for seeing this old town
was the one in lifetime. It is an old
town. In our country town is old If
it has seen fifty years; very old one il
hundred. London was city more
than eighteen hundred years ago. The
hotel I stop at was used as such for
the past two centuries. Everything
has that appearance Of great age, and
investigation proves that in most cases
it does not belle the appearance.
In reaching London from Galasheils
I am fortunate enough to obtain berth
on a Pullman car. There were not
more than three or four besides my
self in the car. This is the only in
stance I can remember where the ac-
commodations of travel and the charg-
es compare favorably with the United
States. The car was nicely warmed
and quite as comfortable as any thing
we have.
After my arrival, and breakfast, I
walked to st. Paul's Cathedral. which
is but few squares from Charing
Cross. Wellington, and Nelson, and
many others of England's celebrated
soldiers and sailors, are buried here.
Tablets and monuments and statues
are scattered about in endless variety;
many battle scenes on land and water
being represented in marble, elaborate
in size and workmanship.
My next point is the tower. The
name is misleading, as 1t includes not
less than a dozen towers, and endless
lengths of walls ard buildings used for
various purposes; although the main
use of the whole now is as barracks
for few soldiers and as curiosity
shop. s.4.....s ..-.s.-........
| A melancholy interest attaches to
this building because of the countless
executions that have taken place with
in it's limits. Doubtless many were
executed for crimes deserving of death,
but there is no question that many per-
sons of distinguished character suffered
death at the hands of the executioner
who were as little deserving Of such
fate as poor, innocent Lady Jane Grey,
whom her relatives made the rival of
murdered without mercy and without
remorse.
The history of the founding Of the
Tower is lost in the dim distant past.
1t is not known when or for what pur-
pose it had its origin.
IT was long used as fortress and for
time as royal residence, and also
Royal Menagerie existed here from q
very early date.
The entrance is at the Middle Tower.
What was originally the moat 100 feet
wide is covered with stone bridge.
Passing by the Byward Tower, the
Bell Tower, and the Traitors Gate, we
come to the Bloody Tower. II is sup
posed that here the young princess sons
of Edward w., were murdered. The
Irongate, Well, Cradle. Hall, New
Lanthorn and other Towers are rapidly
noted, and we come to the Wakefield
Tower, in which the Crown Jewels are
kept. These are quite too well guard
ed to be of special interest, SO after q
hasty inspection of them we pass on to
| White Tower where the Armories and
State Apartments are shown: The en-
trance leads to a staircase in the thick
ness of the wall by which we climb to
the Tower Armory. This is vast
collection of arms and armor used by
the ancient kings and soldiers. It is
bewildering in its variety and rare
workmanship, but would be worse than
useless in modern warfare. Horse and
man were then incased in a coat oi
steel, which, however impervious to
their rude weapons, would now be pen.
etrated by our weakest arms.
On leaving the Armory we turn te
the Beauchamp Tower, originally bull
by the Romans, and used as roya
residence and state prison. 1t is her,
that hundreds of prisoners passed thei
last days before being led out to thei
execution on Tower Hill; and the prin
cipal interest that attaches to the build
ing now is the record left upon th,
walls of their prison-rooms, by it's un
happy occupants of former times
RudeIy carved into the stone ar
names, figures and emblems; and sent
ences such as, 1.-The sighs are the tru
J testimonies of my anguish" "Hope
, the end aud have pacience." "A pas